Public Statements

Carson Statement on Legislation Currently Before the U.S. House of Representatives

Statement

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 3835, a bill that will extend the limitation on pay for Members of Congress and Federal employees. Beginning Wednesday, Congressman André Carson (IN-7) will be joining his constituents in Indianapolis for numerous community events surrounding the Super Bowl and will be unable to vote on this measure. His statement is below:

It is a great honor to have the Super Bowl in my hometown this week. The community events leading up to the game provide unparalleled opportunities to engage constituents and highlight why industries should locate to Indianapolis. It is also an important time for Indianapolis to promote tourism, which is a critical for our state's economy. In the coming days, I will be attending events that promote healthy living and physical fitness, as well as events dedicated to positively impacting at-risk neighborhoods. I intend to unapologetically cheerlead for my city by taking every opportunity to speak about its unique strengths.

While I would prefer us to consider a bill that only limits Congressional pay, not that of hardworking federal employees, I believe that the ineffectiveness of this Congress warrants my support of H.R. 3835. We've seen some notable economic improvements, but many Americans remain unemployed and families continue struggling to make ends meet. Despite these challenges, partisan bickering and obstructionism has brought Congress to a standstill. This is no time for Congress to give itself a raise. We need to focus on putting Americans back to work and our economy on a stable, long-term course. Supporting a pay limitation is the right thing to do.

Congress will also consider H.R. 3567, the Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act, a bill that amends portions of the Social Security Act to require States to prevent assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program from being used in strip clubs, casinos, and liquor stores.

Congressman Carson added:

I support H.R. 3567, the WIN for Children and Families Act. We must ensure that the tax dollars designated to help parents buy food for their children are used only for that purpose.